Ritual: Scorpio New Moon

Become aware of your body. Notice how gravity holds and connects you to earth. It’s as though your body is an ancient stone temple—solid, strong, secure. Sanctify this temple. Imagine a priestess is pouring sacred water and scattering rose petals, all the way down, from your head to your toes. Any anxiety or negativity washes away. Notice the thoughts and feelings leaving the temple—your judgments, your distracted mind, your worried heart. Be sure to honor them. Give each a smile and a piece of cake as it departs.

Visualize a ring of fragrant flowers surrounding you, protecting you. Know that you are safe and relaxed. Breathe deeply. Feel the power of the Sun and Moon pouring into your circle. The energy of Scorpio is gathering in your circle. It is focused, probing and intense. Scorpio treads into territory that makes other signs squirm—like death, sexuality, and money. Scorpio’s ruler is Pluto, god of the underworld, lord of all the riches below ground, the jewels, the minerals, the oil. When we look underneath the surface of life, particularly into our own psychological depths, we likewise find great wealth. Scorpio asks us to confront our fears and hidden complexes. Making changes in this dark and shadowy territory increases our power in the outer world. Avoid this work and Scorpio loses its center, becoming vengeful, judgmental, and controlling—trying to grab its power illicitly, by stealing it from outer sources. Better to fearlessly confront the inner obstacles. Do this to release your passion, unlock your treasure chest of jewels. Remember that any Scorpio death is always followed by a blazing rebirth. Feel the unflinching strength of this sign as you read Scorpio’s affirmations.

• I am focused.
• Death is beautiful. I am fearless
  in the face of change.
• I am a vibrant snake shedding old skin.
• My sexuality is passionate and divine.
• I am strongest when I’m vulnerable.
• I weed out, clean out, throw out,
  everything I’ve outgrown.
• Jealousy means I haven’t dreamed
  big enough for myself.
• When I surrender, greater powers
  always come to my aid.

Your intentions for this cycle are gathering. You may already know what you wish to accomplish. Or you may not. Trust that all will unfold perfectly in time. Know that this brief ritual has aligned you with spirit. Now ask your heart if it has a closing message for you. This may come in words or as a picture, perhaps as a body sensation or sound. Give yourself time to receive this message. Digest it. Write it down. Then, in gratitude to yourself and spirit, return to normal awareness. Place a symbol of your Scorpio New Moon message on your altar.